icehotel 365: world's first permanent ice hotel opens north of the arctic circle

architecture in sweden surveys the contemporary condition of the country’s built environment, showcasing a range of innovative projects and the diverse materials and unconventional forms employed in their construction.

ice hotel architecture and design surveys frozen temporary accommodation around the globe, looking at contemporary projects and the diverse materials and unconventional forms employed in their construction.

icehotel 365 — the world’s first permanent ice hotel — has opened to guests in sweden, 200 kilometers north of the arctic circle. in addition to 20 suites for overnight stays, the 2,100 square meter resort also includes a bar and an art gallery, open throughout the year. the entire project has been created out of snow and ice by artists from around the globe.

icehotel 365 is formed from around 30,000 liters of water that has been taken from the adjacent torne river. founded in 1989, each year icehotel presents an ephemeral collection of art-filled rooms and suites — the 2016 edition is the resort’s 27th incarnation. when parts of the hotel melt next spring, icehotel 365 will be able to offer its 50,000 annual visitors a year-round experience.

the permanent structure takes advantage of the region’s near constant daylight between may and july, with photovoltaic panels and sustainable building techniques. topped with a green roof, the new hotel has been erected on a former ice storage site, adjacent to the existing hotel. internal temperatures in the new building drop as low as -5 degrees celsius (23 degrees fahrenheit). the refrigerating plant that ensures icehotel 365 is cold throughout the summer is powered by energy from solar panels, harvested during the warmer months.

‘what’s fascinating is that the sun which melted the art in the past, is essential for making the year-round art experience possible,’ explains arnebergh, creative director at icehotel. ‘the art in the permanent part of icehotel will also change during the year and melt back into torne river again.’

‘the nature and environment are not only a huge source for inspiration for icehotel, but also a necessity to create the hotel year after year,’ adds yngvebergqvist, founder and initiator of the project. ‘previously we said goodbye to our guests come spring, but thanks to help from the sun we now can invite them year-round.’

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